spirits among them. The gentry are a very sensible, polite, and friendly people. Their Parliament makes a most respectable figure, with a number of very respectable speakers in both parties, and able men of business. And I must not omit acquainting you that, it being a standing rule to admit members of the English Parliament to sit (though they do not vote) in the House among the members, my fellowtraveler, being an English member, was accordingly admitted as such; but I supposed I must go to the gallery, when the speaker stood up and acquainted the House that he understood there was in town an American gentleman of (as he was pleased to say) distinguished character and merit, a member or delegate of some of the Parliaments of that country, who was desirous of being present at the debates of the House; that there was a rule of the House for admitting members of English Parliaments, and that he supposed the House would consider the American Assemblies as English Parliaments; but as this was the first instance, he had chosen not to give any order in it without first receiving their directions. On the question, the House gave a loud, unanimous Ay, when two members came without the bar, led me in between them, and placed me honorably and commodiously."

Such a reception in Ireland must have been exceedingly gratifying to him at a time when the "lying representations," as he strongly terms them, of Governor Bernard, identifying him with the Massachusetts disturbances, made his treatment by the official

personages in London any thing but courteous. He had been grievously insulted by Lord Hillsborough, as we have already seen, and certain of the newspapers were, or had been, in full cry against him. In the respite from public labors and official discomforts which he enjoyed during this tour through Ireland and Scotland, the sympathy and warm-heartedness of the Irish patriots were not the only circum stances which gave him comfort and solace. He found his old Scottish friends, with some new ones, ready to receive him with open arms, and spent severai weeks in the enjoyment of the society of men, most of whom had no particular political sympathy with him, while their esteem for him as a man and as a philosopher, or, in other words, their personal regard, made their intercourse with him most delightful.

In this year (1771) Dr. Franklin paid two visits to Jonathan Shipley, bishop of St. Asaph's-the "good bishop," as he styled him. To this prelate Dr. Franklin was indebted for some of the attention which he received in Ireland, being furnished with letters to gentlemen in that country. As an evidence of the continual remembrance of his family, we extract the following from a letter to his wife, written August 14th, 1771. The last clause of the extract is amusingly characteristic: "I spent three weeks in Hampshire at my friend the Bishop of St. Asaph's. The bishop's lady knows what children and grandchildren I have, and their ages; so, when I was to come away on Monday, the 12th, in the

morning, she insisted on my staying that one day longer, that we might together keep my grandson's birth-day. At dinner, among other nice things, we had a floating island, which they always particularly have on the birth-days of any of their own six children, who were all but one at table, where there was also a clergyman's widow, now above one hundred years old. The chief toast of the day was Master Benjamin Bache, which the venerable old lady began in a bumper of mountain. The bishop's lady politely added, and that he may be as good a man as his grandfather.' I said I hoped he would be much better. The bishop, still more complaisant than his lady, said, 'We will compound the matter, and be content if he should not prove quite so good.' This chit-chat is to yourself only, in return for some of yours about your grandson, and must only be read to Sally, and not spoken of to any body else; for you know how people add and alter silly stories that they hear, and make them appear ten times more silly."

In the letter to his wife which contained the above, he inclosed also a letter just received from the bishop. Sure that his wife could not help but hear what was said to his disadvantage, he was ever kindly anxious that she should know what pleasant events he encountered, and what good and great men gave him their countenance. It was during his visit to the bishop that he commenced his autobiography, and it is not at all improbable that the partiality and kindness of this hospitable family aided no little in

putting him in the good humor with himself which runs so pleasantly through that performance.

The embarrassments which attended the transaction of American business, and his increasing infirmities of age, again pressed upon Franklin the expediency of returning home, and he expressed the desire very strongly in his letters written in 1772. But his correspondents in America urged him to remain, and in this year the Massachusetts affairs again engaged his attention. In this year, too, he was occupied with the Walpole Grant and with Lord Hillsborough, whose resignation took place about the middle of the year; and the appointment of Lord Dartmouth put matters on a better footing, as the regulations respecting agents, established by Lord Hillsborough, were set aside. It has been supposed that the influence of Dr. Franklin had some weight in the appointment of Lord Dartmouth. That nobleman was an opponent of the Stamp Act, and from his general principles was supposed to be favorable to the interests of the colonies. It is said that Franklin was sounded while the successorship to Lord Hillsborough was mooted, and that he mentioned Lord Dartmouth as one who would be acceptable to the Americans. And the change was found erally very acceptable.

gen

Dr. Franklin's first official business with Lord Dartmouth was the presentation of a petition from the Massachusetts Legislature, remonstrating against the payment of the governor's and judges' salaries by the crown. Under advice from Dartmouth, whose

good-will to the provinces was not, at this time, questioned, and who, perhaps, would never have been supposed to entertain any other feelings if the committal of the ministry to a bad policy had not compelled him to act against his former opinions, Franklin consented that the presentation of the petition should be delayed. Meanwhile, orders were dispatched to America, by which the salaries of the governor and judges were to be paid from the customs. The Legislature tendered the governor his salary, and he declined receiving it; but he asked that the Province House in Boston might be repaired for his residence. The Legislature replied that, as he chose to be supported by the British government, they did not feel obliged to be at any expense for his accommodation.

In the autumn of 1772, two meetings were held by the citizens of Boston in relation to this subject of salaries. Messages desiring information were sent to Governor Hutchinson, which he declined to answer, refusing to recognize the meeting, and branding it as an "unlawful assembly." He was then desired to convene the General Court, which he refused to do. A committee was appointed to make a report at a subsequent meeting; and this report, a most able document, was adopted in Boston, and dispatched with circular letters to other towns in the province. In most of the towns the sentiments of the "Statement of Rights" were cordially responded to, and all the efforts of the friends of the governor to awe and cajole the people into silence were inef